Opioids
Opioids are a class of powerful painkillers that come both naturally and synthetically from the opium plant. If you have had surgery or an accident recently, your doctor likely prescribed an opioid for your pain. Opioids are considered highly addictive and aren’t intended for long-term use. Unfortunately, studies have shown that people of all ages now abuse these drugs by taking them for non-prescription purposes. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that in 2007 as many as 257,000 people over the age of 12 have taken opioids without a prescription. If you are an opioid user, the following information may be helpful for you.
Symptoms of Opioid Dependence in New Jersey Addicts
You are at risk of opioid addiction if you have used opioids for longer periods of time or in larger quantities than your doctor recommended. Short-term dependencies are considered easier to combat, because long-term opioid use can result in severe addiction. If you are unable to stop taking opioids for even 24 hours without the onset of withdrawal symptoms, you are likely addicted. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include many of the following:
- moodiness
- anxiety
- shaking
- excessive sweating
- high blood pressure
- nausea or vomiting
- seizures
These symptoms occur with varying degrees of severity, based on the level of your opioid dependency. For a long-term user, withdrawal can be quite serious and even endanger your life.
Additionally, if you are trying to self-rehabilitate from your opioid addiction or have yet to decide that treatment is right for you, understand that these harsh withdrawal symptoms are often responsible for relapse. If you relapse one or more times during a self-rehab program, you should consider seeking drug treatment centers.
Treatment for New Jersey Opioid Addicts
If you choose to seek drug treatment for opioid use, you should consider a multi-faceted treatment program like inpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab can be a lengthy process, lasting up to three months if your addiction requires extensive treatment. In addition to breaking your physical habit, this treatment helps you examine any underlying causes of your addiction by providing group and individual counseling. In this respect, inpatient treatment gives you all of the tools you need to beat your addiction to opioids with a low risk of relapse after release.
Finding Opioid Treatment Help
If you are a New Jersey addict and you would like to discuss how to get treatment for your opioid addiction, please call us at 1-888-374-5724.
